Ok fellow Chowhounders the time has come for me to get married. By this time next week I will be at my 3rd Sheva Brachos. By July, my Kallah and I will be preparing our first Shabbos by ourselves for the first time. Neither of us have any experience in making some good old Chulent.

This is where you guys come in. I need recipes, just not ordinary recipes. I know how to put barley, potatoes and meat in a crock pot. Although, I do not know how to make flavorful, thick and liquidy Chulent. Is Kishka mandatory? Can tomatoes be put in? What's a better base, barley or beans? HELP!

I am also looking for random ingrediants that have worked well for you in your Chulent. I've heard of beer, chicken wings, ketchup, honey, scotch, tobasco sauce, various kugels, paprika, even pineapple being put into Chulent.

Also, when is the best time to turn on the crock pot? Thursday night, friday morning or friday before sunset? And how much is enough for 2 people?

I am looking for a restaurant in or near the Edison, NJ area. Since this is for my Sheva Brachos it should be a sit down/nice place. It could be meat or dairy. Any reviews for The Orchard in Highland Park, NJ?

The cold cuts at Caraville are just as good as the original essex on coney, if not better. I had a deli sandwhich there last week. The postions were great and the cold cuts were moist and flavorful. Two thumbs up on essex's reincarnation.

The same cannot be said about Palace Grill. I went there a few weeks ago and had a pastrami sandwhich. The meat was dry and scant. Plus, they didn't even have russian/thou island dressing!!! What's up with that? Two thumbs down on palace grill.

While we are on topic, has anyone tried the new glatt kosher deli on Ave U and East 30's? Be careful there is a treif deli that has been there for decades.

The owner of Big Fleishigs has a great sense of humor. When they first opened they were called McFleishigs. They recieved a cease and desist order from McDonalds. So they changed their name and taped the order to the wall for everyone to see.

They also were one of the first brooklyn restaurants to actively advertise the curbside pick up.

The best shwarma (any takers?), would be pita on the corner, on ave p and east 2 st. Anyone know a place where I can get strictly kosher lamb shwarma in Brooklyn? Pita Plus (Strickland Ave and Mill Ave) used to have it.